New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the state’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) to investigate allegations that Facebook advertisers are discriminating against protected classes.
The Governor’s directive comes amid reports indicating that the social media giant’s advertising platform allows advertisers to use Zip code information to change or block advertisements and exclude consumers based on their race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, sex, disability and other classifications.
In addition, Facebook allegedly claims that its advertising platform is powerful as it allows housing and housing-related advertisers to reach their target consumers.
Furthermore, the social media giant allegedly uses machine learning and predictive analytics to categorize users to predict their response to a certain advertisement.
Facebook advertisers practicing discrimination will be held accountable
In a statement, Gov. Cuomo said, “The allegations against Facebook advertisers are extremely troubling and fly in the face of everything that New York stands for.”
